SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network) and IPLC (International Private Leased Line) are two technologies and solutions commonly used by enterprises to build and manage WAN connectivity. They have some differences in terms of functions, deployment methods and features, etc. The following is a detailed comparison of SD-WAN and IPLC:

1. Technical principles:

①SD-WAN: SD-WAN is based on software-defined networking technology, which enables centralized management and control of multiple network connections by adding virtualization, intelligent routing and network function virtualization to the existing network architecture. SD-WAN can utilize multiple underlying transport networks, such as Internet, 4G/5G, MPLS, etc., to provide higher reliability and bandwidth utilization .

②IPLC: IPLC is a physical private line connection that uses traditional circuit switching technology to establish point-to-point dedicated communication lines between different geographical locations. It is usually based on physical media such as fiber, cable or satellite, and provides high bandwidth, low latency, secure and reliable international data transmission.

2. Deployment methods:

①SD-WAN: SD-WAN can be deployed on existing network infrastructure based on software, without additional hardware equipment or physical dedicated lines. Enterprises can use multiple network connections, including Internet, MPLS, 4G/5G, etc., which can be centrally managed and configured through SD-WAN controller.

②IPLC: IPLC needs to be deployed through the support of telecom operators or leased line service providers, involving the installation and configuration of physical leased lines. It usually requires some time and cost to establish international leased line connection.

3. Network performance and bandwidth:

① SD-WAN: SD-WAN can intelligently select and manage different network connections according to the network traffic demand to provide better network performance and bandwidth utilization. It can perform traffic scheduling and load balancing based on the priority and demand of applications.

②IPLC: IPLC provides dedicated physical leased-line connections with high bandwidth and low latency to meet the needs of applications with high requirements for network performance and real-time performance.

4. Reliability and security:

①SD-WAN: SD-WAN has features such as intelligent routing, failover and link quality monitoring, which can achieve fast failover recovery and traffic switching and improve network reliability. Meanwhile, SD-WAN can also provide security features, such as encryption and firewall, to protect data security.

②IPLC: IPLC provides exclusive physical private line connection without interference from other users, which has high security and reliability. The data transmission process does not pass through the public Internet, reducing the risk of being hacked or stolen.

5. Cost:

①SD-WAN: SD-WAN is relatively flexible and cost effective because it can utilize inexpensive transmission media such as the Internet and does not require additional hardware equipment or dedicated line costs.

②IPLC: IPLC is more expensive to build and maintain, and requires contracting with telecom operators or leased line service providers and paying related leased line rental fees.

To sum up, there are differences between SD-WAN and IPLC in terms of technical principles, deployment methods, network performance, reliability, security and cost. When choosing a solution that suits your business needs, you need to take into account your enterprise’s network requirements, budget constraints, available network resources and geographical location. If you have SDWAN networking needs, you can contact our company OgCloud.

OgCloud cloud service SD-WAN solution provider helps enterprises to build informationization, digital transformation, and globalization interconnection. It can effectively improve the efficiency of international communication and help Chinese enterprises develop international markets.